The different types of plastics and their uses
ABS: A terpolymer made of three monomers, acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Acrylonitrile and styrene provide chemical resistance, butadiene adds impact resistance and makes the plastic suitable for furniture, computer cases, etc.
Acrylic – A hard thermoplastic made from acrylic acid or a derivative of acrylic acid. Better known as a glass substitute, usually under the trade names Perspex, Lucite, and Plexiglas.
Aminoplasts: Plastics made from ammonia-based compounds, namely urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde.
Bakelite – actually a trade name but often used as a generic name for phenol formaldehyde (phenolic).
Cellophane: Du Pont’s trade name for film made from reclaimed wood pulp (cellulose).
Cellulose: The fibrous matter in all plant cells, with a long-chain molecular structure. The most common sources used to make plastics are cotton fibers and wood pulp.
Cellulose acetate: a strong thermoplastic made from cellulose in the form of cotton linters, treated with acetic acid and acetic anhydride. It is used for many household trims, such as spectacle frames, toothbrush handles, and as a transparent packaging film.
Cellulose acetate butyrate: thermoplastic made from cellulose treated with acetic and butyric acids. Transparent, opaque or colored, with excellent molding qualities, used where greater resistance to moisture and dimensional stability is required than cellulose acetate.
Copolymer: A plastic made by polymerizing two monomers, for example, styrene and acrylonitrile.
Elastomer: A synthetic plastic with the flexible properties of rubber.
Epoxy Resin: A very strong thermosetting resin used as a coating or reinforced to make moldings or laminates.
Ester: A compound produced by the reaction between an acid and an alcohol.
GRP: Fiberglass reinforced polyester, that is, polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers, which makes the resin, which has no resistance of its own, a highly tensile-resistant material. Widely used to build ships, furniture and automobiles.
HIPS: high impact polystyrene
LLDPE: Linear Low Density Polyethylene, a new type of low density polyethylene.
Melalmine: melamine formaldehyde, a thermoset produced by reacting (triaminotriazine) with formaldehyde. A strong, shiny plastic usually reinforced with a wood pulp filler.
Monomer: Simple compound of low molecular weight. Polymerization joins monomers to form high molecular weight polymers.
Nylon: It is not a material but a group of very resistant and flexible materials called polyamides. Thermoplastic and usually in the form of fibers or used solid, such as gears, zippers, and more recently as dyed jewelry.
Phenolic: shortened version of phenol – formaldehyde. Phenolic is usually reinforced with a filler, but cast phenolic is unfilled and can be translucent. It can be easily colored and is used decoratively for jewelry, radio cabinets, and all kinds of trim.
Polycarbonate – A very strong thermoplastic, often found as a substitute for glass, for example: vandal-proof phone kiosks, bullet-proof shields, baby bottles, and picnic items.
Polyesters: Complex ester compounds that are thermosetting and can polymerize at room temperature, eg GRP.
Polymer: Another word for a plastic material: one that has been made from chains of molecules of one or more monomers. Polymers (plastics) are organic substances, made of hundreds or thousands of molecules linked together in a repeating chain pattern (also known as macromolecules).
Polymerization: The chemical process of joining monomers together to form new compounds called polymers. For example, ethylene is polymerized into polyethylene (polyethylene for short).
Polypropylene: A thermoplastic polymerized from propene, very similar to polyethylene in molecular structure, but harder, stronger, and less flexible.
Polystyrene: A brittle, water-white thermoplastic polymerized from styrene-(phenylethylene). Brittleness is overcome by adding a bit of butadiene, resulting in toughened polystyrene, also known as high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), a copolymer of butadiene and styrene. Expanded polystyrene is the rigid white foam used for packaging.
